Mike Salsbury/The Olympian
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (left) prepares to watch live-fire exercises Friday at Fort Lewis. Rumsfeld is flanked by Capt. Jake Kurtzman. Rumsfeld visited the Army post to see its new light-armored combat battalions, designed to get troops into battle situations more quickly.

Rumsfeld visits Fort Lewis, salutes light-armored troops

'Work being done here is important,' defense secretary says

BRAD SHANNON, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Saturday, April 20, 2002

"Bin Laden would hate life if we were the first ones to get there. We would make his day." -- Command Sgt. Maj. David Storey, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry group

FORT LEWIS -- As automatic weapons fired below him during a mock urban war exercise, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stood on a catwalk watching Fort Lewis soldiers in training.

The soldiers belong to a battalion that could be shipped out to Afghanistan or other trouble spots later in the year.

All some are waiting for is the arrival of their Strykers -- the new generation of light-armored vehicles that will speed troops to battle while protecting them from enemy fire.

Rumsfeld appeared pleased with what he saw, including the Army's transformation at Fort Lewis into a more mobile force that can rapidly move to war zones.

"This is the first time I've had a chance to come out here and actually meet with some of these folks," Rumsfeld said. "There's no question but that they are proceeding roughly on the timetable that they have planned, and it seems to be coming along well."

Morale booster

Several soldiers said Rumsfeld's visit will help troop morale because it shows their work is appreciated.

"If nothing else, it convinces him that we're ready to go," said Command Sgt. Maj. David Storey, a member of the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry group.

Soldiers are eagerly awaiting delivery next month of the first Strykers, which can go up to 60 mph and carry nine soldiers in addition to the driver and commanding officer. The first vehicles, which use a frame similar to the light-armored vehicle that Rumsfeld took a ride in Friday, recently came off assembly lines in Michigan and Canada.

"This is the perfect unit for Afghanistan," Storey said. "(Osama) Bin Laden would hate life if we were the first ones to get there. We would make his day."

Met with staff

Rumsfeld met with various staff at the post, including its commander, Lt. Gen. James T. Hill. Rumsfeld did not disclose the nature of his briefings.

Rumsfeld was guarded about the fate of Fort Lewis and other regional military bases, which could grow or shrink as the military's ongoing transformation continues. Rumsfeld said military bases have 20 percent to 25 percent excess capacity. A process authorized by Congress will begin next year to make those decisions, he said.

"Some people try to read into whether I go to a base or not, whether that means something. It doesn't," Rumsfeld said, adding that he went to Fort Lewis "because the work being done here is important" and he wanted to see it firsthand.

On the Web:

- Fort Lewis: www.lewis.army.mil

- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld: www.defenselink.mil/osd/topleaders.html

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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